TWO BY-ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 73, 20 December 1918, Page 6

TWO BY-ELECTIONS

MR. R. SEMPLE WINS WELLINGTON SOUTH MR. J. A. NASH ELECTED FOR PALMERSTON Mr. R. Semple, the Labour nominee, had a very easy win in Wellington South against the two Independent candidates who opposed him. He scored an niteolutc majority of more than 700 votes above the total of votes polled by the other two candidates, one of whom, Air. Castle, r will have to forfeit his deposit. The voting was its under:— ' It. Seiiple (L.) .'. 2412 * G. Frost (I.) 1231 , J. Castle (I.) oi't ■ Total 4030 Mr. Scrapie, who had behind him in the fight the only efficient organisation working in the campaign, actually polled 1850 votes less than were cast for the elected candidate at the last general election, and more than six hundred votes less than were polled by the defeated candidate in 1914. Following was the result of the polling in that year:-.!. H. Hindmarsh, 4279; J. V. Liikt-, 3004; R, B. Williams, 221; total, 7G24. The roll is just as big this year as it was in 1914, and only 4000 odd vc"t"s were cast in the whole election. Following are details of the polling in the several booths yesterday:— Castle. Frost. Semple. Vogeltown 1 8 14 Constable Street 59 149 132 Tasman Street ... 12 63 149 Palm Grove 9 22 78 Berhampore 20 54 119 Hankey Street ... 12 87 134 Newtown Library 104 246 516 St. Thomas's .... 140 260 584Brooklyn 28 392 656 Totals 397 1281 2412 There were 26 informal votes. SPEECRESIIY~CANDIDATES MR. SEMPLE RETURNS THANKS. Mr. Semple was given a great ovation when he arrived at the Star Theatre, where the crowd had congregated to hear the result. . U/ Semple said that he wished first of all to thank the electors for having done him the honour of placing him at the top of the poll. He could assure them that the honour was- one that he appreciated to the full, and he appreciated also the confidence they had shown in him. He wished to make the declaration that as long as ho lived he would never betray than confidence. And he would not be a sleeping member either. On the contrary, he would try to be as troublesome as he possibly could. He wished to thank nil the courageous men and- women who had worked so.strenuously in this fight. This was not a personal victory for him, nor had it been won by him. It had been won by the joint effort of his fellow trades unionists, won by the solidarity of the men and women-of Wellington South, who had become conscious that they were the victims of betrayal and plunder' by a Government that professed to be a patriotic Government. He wished to say, also, that the victory won that day in Wellington South was not only a victory for the working men and women of that electorate, but a victory for the working class of the Dominion, and just as they were delighted with Uieir victory, so would be their fellow workers from end to end of the Dominion. Speaking without egotism, ho believed that the victory would have a great psychological effect because he had been particularly branded as an industrial bushranger. He had spent some time in prison with his friends Harry Holland and Fraser, and now he would sit with them in the same House. The contest had given him fresh courage to go on with the Labour battle. In the New Year they would set out on a campaign from one end of New Zealand to the. other for the purpose of winning New Zealand for the working men and women. They were not going to be satisfied with this ono victory in Wellington South. That was only a small reflection of what was going to take place from the North Cape to the Bluff. He hoped that when the municipal elections came round the working people would strike a blow at Mr..Frost and his crowd, and would wipe out altogether those city fathers who were responsible for the slumdom of this city. In general politics they must put the squut- | ters who had run this country out of power, .and they must govern the country for the useful people in it. He concluded with a tribute to th« courage and steadfastness in all adversity of his partner in life; Mrs. Semple, and with a last word of thanks to the people who had retu.vied him at the head of tho poll. Mr; H. Semple and Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., spoke also from tho "Evening Post" balcony, where they thanked the electors for the votes cast for Labour principles that day, and prophesied further successos at the general election neil year. MR. G. FROST. Mr. G- Frost, speaking after the declaration of the poll, said that he wished to congratulate the Labour Party heartily on the win that had been scored. The Labour candidate had been backed by a magnificent organisation, which had earned its success. He himself hud stood alone in the fight, and although defeated he was not discouraged. When the general election came along he would face tho electors again. In the meantime he hoped that the Labour member for Wellington South would do his hest for the country. Mr. Frost was eiven a hostile reception by a section of the crowd. MR. J. CASTLE. Mr. J. Castle said that he wished to thank the 397- electors who had given him their votes. He had stood as an independent candidate, and lip considered that as a novice in political affairs lie had done as well as could have been expected on his preliminary run. He had polled more votes than had been secured at the last election by a candidate who had been backed by a large organisation. "T'am defeated, but I am not dismayed," said Mr. Castle. "I shall come again before the electors. I have rained some nolitical training, and I shall do .better in the future." Mr. Castle congratulated the new member, and .said he was sure i'nat the Labour Party was eoin? to demand a fair share of representation in Parliament in the future. PALMERSTON NORTH VICTORY FOR MR. NASH. By Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North. December 19. The by-election for the Palmerston North seat, rendered necessary by the death of Mr. D. Buick, Tesulted in a victory for Mr. J. A. Nash, the nominee of the" National Government. Mr. Nash polled 315 votes more than his nearest opponent. Mr. A. v Galbraith (Labour). The various candidates rolled as under:— J. A. Nash (Nat. G") 2229 A. Ga.lbraith (L.) 1914 E. 11. Crabb 1119* A. Buchanan 101 Total 5363 At the election held in 1911 the voting was as under:— Buick ...' 2844 Thorn ; 1735 ■ - Crabb 1546 Nash 1071 Informal 85 Total 7281